Method of and apparatus for producing cylindrical pads, padding and the like



J n 18, 1957 J. J. KIRCHHEIM 2,795,324

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CYLINDRICAL PADS, PADDING AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 8, 1952 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jean (/00 1/68 /77rcAAe/m BY ay za ATTORNEY June 18, 1957 J. J. KIRCHHEIM 2,795,824

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CYLINDRICAL PADS, PADDING AND THE LIKE 2 Sheefs-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8. 1952 Fl 6. Z.

- INVENTOR Jean r/a cg v6.5 /)7rci 4 6/0 ATTORNEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CYLINDRICAL PADS, PADDING AND THE LIKE Jean Jacques Kirchheim, St. Servais, Belgium, assignor to Societe Anonyme des Manufactures des Glaces & Produits Chimiques dc Saint-Gobain, Chauny & Cirey, Paris, France, a corporation of France Application February 8, 1952, Serial No. 270,662

Claims priority, application France February 13, 1951 17 Claims. (Cl. 19-145) The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for producing cylindrical pads, paddings, beadings, coaming and the like from thermoplastic materials, particularly glass fibers.

The process, according to the invention, consists in depositing the fibers, as soon as they are produced or taken from a suitable source of supply, on the inside of a receiving surface of substantially conical form with fixed. By preference the fibers I generating lines of direction. are deposited on a portion only of this surface and take the form of a loose mat or nap of intertwined or commingled fibers and are caused to pass or travel into a conformate truncated cone following the larger receiving surface. The conformate and smaller section of the cone is provided with an opening and a tractive force is exerted adjacent this opening in such a way that the fibers are carried along from their point of reception in the receiving cone, arranged in order and compressedby the converging wall of the smaller section of the cone to take the shape more or less of a round or cylindrical padding or beading. The padding so formed, after leaving the exit of the cone may be deposited on or collected by appropriate mechanism.

A device of any suitable type may be provided adjacent the outlet or exit end of the conformate cone to ligature or bind the obtained padding.

The invention provides also for covering the fiber padding when desired as soon as it is formed with a strip of fabric or cloth and this covering like the padding may be fashioned from glass fibers. In this case, the fibers, taken from a suitable source of supply or as soon as they are produced are deposited on a strip which is supported by and travels within the sections of the cone. Longitudinal forward motion of the strip carries the fibers from their point of reception toward and into the conformate and smaller section of the cone. The strip is ultimately wound or turned about the fibers to envelope the same and the padding thus covered can be bound or stitched by any appropriate device.

The fibers used for the manufacture of this padding by the process according to the invention can be obtained by any suitable process, for example, by drawing of filaments by means of gas jets, by projection of material by means of a rotating body and cutting the projected fibers by gas jets, or by any other known processes for the production of glass filaments.

The fibers can be deposited on the surface by the same gas jet which is used in the course of their manufacture or their cutting off, or independent jets may be used for that purpose.

Fig. 1 is aperspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus for executing the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, taken from an angle different from that in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one arrangement for forming and directing the fibers or filaments of plastic 1 and 2. v

In the version represented in Fig. 1, the arrangement includes a truncated reception cone 1 fixed on a support 2. The wall of this truncated cone, exemplifying a tapered surface of revolution, is perforated, and consists preferably of a metal lattice thereby permitting the escape of the gases conveying the fibers and delivering the same to the cone. The arrangement also includes a conformate cone section 3 constituting the top or small end of the truncated cone 1 and provided with an evacuation hole 4. The fibers or filaments 5 may be projected from a centrifuging body 20 containing the plastic material with the aid of an entraining gaseous blast issuing from nozzles 21 (Fig. 3). The fibers thus formed are projected by the entraining air blast onto a portion of the truncated reception cone which, in the represented example, is situated on the lower part of the inside wall of said truncated cone and on which they form a relatively loose mat of intertwined or commingled fibers or nap 6. A portion of the fibers is carried by the air blast into the inside of the smaller and conformate section 3 of the cone and toward its exit opening 4.

At the time of starting operations the glass fibers adjacent or Within the conformate cone section are fed by hand through the discharge opening 4, through the device 8 and pulled toward and laid upon the rotating traction rollers 9. The inter-engagement of the fibers results from the frictional contact between them, which serves to draw exit from the opening 4 have been finally shaped into the desired cylindrical fleece or padding. The rate and amount of fibers fed to the receiving end of the cone will be coordinated with rate and speed of traction exerted on the fibers so as to avoid clogging of the opening 4.

This cylindrical pad, after being ligatured or bound'by a suitable device such as that indicated by 8 in the drawing, passes over rollers 9 so arranged to provide a tractive effort on the cylindrical pad as it issues from the opening4 and also on the fibers within cone and approaching the opening. These rollers also provide means for removing the cylindrical pad from the cone as the same is produced.

In the version represented by Fig. 2 the receiving cone section 10 is perforated or latticed as in Fig. 1. The under part of this cone section 10, however, is fashioned to support a channel 11 by preference curved in cross section and conforming to the generatrix of the interior wall of the conical member. On the channel 11 there unrolls and travels a flexible stripor band 12 which later becomes the cover for the collected and shaped fibers. This cover strip may be formed of glass fibers. The fibers 5 are deposited on the strip 12 in a manner described in connection with Fig. l, subjected to traction along with the strip or band 12 and carried toward and through the conformate cone section 13 and out of the discharge opening 14.

By the time the compressed fibers reach the opening sive narrowing or convergence of the cone wall, especially Within the cone section 13.

Adjacent the discharge opening 14 of the cone there is provided anadjustable tongue 17 one end .of which is Patented June 18, 1957 3 pivotally supported at 18 by the cone 13 and the opposite free end arranged to bear up and compress the cylindrical pad when desired. The free portion of the tongue is suitably attached to a screw threaded post 19 which extends outwardly through a complementary threaded bracket 20 carried by the cone 13. Rotation of a hand wheel 21 fixed to the post 19 serves to regulate the compression of the cylindrical pad to any desired extent.

Traction is imparted to the band or strip and the fibers thereon within the cone and to the enveloped fibers beyond the cone by the rollers 9 shown in Fig. l. The cover enveloping the glass fibers may be stitched or bound by the device 8 of Fig. 1.

The start or initiation of operations of the method and apparatus of Fig. 2 is somewhat similar to Fig. 1. In Fig. 2 the band or strip 12 and the fibers thereon are fed by hand through the discharge opening 14, through the device 8 and pulled toward and laid upon the rotating traction rollers 9. From then on as in Fig. 1 the method and apparatus will continue as long as fibers are delivered to the conical member.

The axes of the cones of Figs. 1 and 2 may be horizontal or slightly inclined.

In the foregoing the receiving surface was indicated as being conical in order to facilitate the explanation of the invention. However, it should be well understood that this surface can include any surface with transverse section decreasing from the receiving zone up to the inlet of the conformate cone.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of producing cylindrical pads, padding and the like which consists in delivering a plurality of fibers to the interior of a horizontally arranged fixed hollow tapered member adjacent the large end thereof and toward the lower part of its interior wall by entraining said fibers in a gaseous stream and gradually compressing the same during their movement forwardly through the converging wall of said hollow tapered member and out of its small end, and encompassing a confining member about the periphery of the cylindrical pad as it issues from said end to secure the fibers in their compressed form.

2. The method of manufacturing cylindrical pads, padding and the like from thermoplastic material and particularly molten glass which consists in projecting said material in the form of fibers from a rotating centrifuging body and entraining and directing said fibers with a gaseous fluid into the larger end of a fixed hollow horizontally disposed apertured conical member and toward the lower portion of its interior surface, applying traction to said fibers to cause them to travel forwardly through said member and out of the smaller end thereof under the compressive influence of said member thereby gradually and progressively compressing and shaping the fibers into a predetermined compressed mass, and encompassing a confining member about the periphery of the cylindrical pad as it issues from said end to secure the fibers in their compressed and substantially untwisted form.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a hollow tapered member arranged to receive within its interior wall adjacent its larger end a plurality of 'comrningled fibers entrained in a gaseous propelling medium and having a section of said Wall provided with perforations and another section of its wall adjacent said small end imperforate and provided with an outlet, means for fixedly supporting said tapered member with its axis substantially horizontal, traction means beyond the outlet for drawing the commingled fibers Within said hollow tapered member forwardly through said sections whereby said fibers are gradually compressed without twisting, and means beyond said outlet for encompassing a confining member about the body of said compressed fibers as it issues from said outlet to secure the fibers in their compressed and substantially untwisted form.

4. In an apparatus of the character described; the combination of a hollow conical member having a sect-ion of its wall perforate and arranged to receive upon its interior and lower surface adjacent its larger end a plurality of commingled fibers entrained in a gaseous propelling medium and another section of its wall adjacent the apex imperforate and provided with an outlet, means for fixedly supporting said hollowconical member with its axis substantially horizontal, traction means beyond the outlet for drawing the commingled fibers within said hollow conical member forwardly and through said imperforate section, whereby said fibers are gradually compressed without twisting, and means beyond said outlet for encompassing a confining member around the body of said compressed fibers as it issues from said outlet to secure the fibers in their compressed and substantially untwisted form.

5. The apparatus specified in claim 3 characterized by adjustable means beyond the outlet and in advance of the traction means for further compressing the fibers to control the cross-section of the body of fibers in its secured state.

6. The apparatus specified in claim 3 characterized by a location of the securing means to the rear of the outlet and in advance of the traction means.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a hollow conical member having a section of its wall perforate and arranged to receive through its larger end a plurality of commingled fibers entrained in a gaseous propelling medium and another section of its wall imperforate and provided with an outlet, a guide arranged along the lower portion of the wall of the perforate section for supporting a continuous and movable band entering the guide at the larger end of said member and extending into and through said outlet, and traction means beyond the outlet for drawing the band and fibers thereon along said guide and into and through said imperforate section whereby said fibers are compressed and said band is gradually turned and finally envelopes said fibers to form a cover therefor.

8. The apparatus specified in claim 7 characterized by the guide being curved in transverse section and conforming to the generatrix of the interior wall of the conical member.

9. In apparatus for the producing of cylindrical pads,

padding and the like, the combination with means for continuously producing fibers from a source of plastic material in the presence of a gaseous fluid under the pressure entraining the fibers, of a hollow conical member having a section of its wall perforate and arranged to receive upon its interior and lower surface adjacent its larger end the continuing mass of fibers entrained by said gaseous fluid, and another section of its wall adjacent its apex imperforate and provided with an outlet, means for supporting said hollow conical member with its axis substantially horizontal, traction means beyond the outlet for drawing the commingled fibers within said hollow conical member forwardly and through said imperforate section whereby the fibers are gradually compressed, and means beyond said outlet for encompassing a confining member about the periphery of the cylindrical pad as it issues from said outlet to secure the commingled fibers in their compressed form.

10. The method of producing cylindrical pads, insulating mats and the like from fibres of glass or other thermoplastic materials comprising the steps of projecting fibres by an entraining gas on a portion of the surface of a fixed and substantially horizontal conical perforated receiving surface, so as to form a mat, leading the mat so produced into a fixed imperforate truncated forming cone following the receiving surface by applying a drawing force at the exit of said truncated cone, so as to cause the fibres to be oriented and taken along one by the other, the mat of fibres taking inside the forming cone the form of a cylindrical pad, and encompassing a confining member about the periphery of the cylindrical pad as it issues 5 from said exit to secure the fibers in their compressed form.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of the hollow conical member arranged to receive within its interior wall a plurality of commingled fibres entrained in a gaseous propelling medium, a continuous and movable band arranged along the lower portion of the wall of said member and constituting the part where the fibres are received, a fixed truncated forming cone following the member in which the band is introduced, traction means beyond the outlet of said cone for drawing the band and fibers thereon through the truncated cone, whereby the fibres take the form of a cylindrical pad and the band is gradually turned and finally envelopes the fibres to form a cover therefor.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a hollow member arranged to receive within its interior wall a plurality of commingled fibres entrained in a gaseous propelling medium, a guide arranged along the lower portion of the wall of said member supporting a continuous and movable band, a fixed truncated forming cone following said member in which the band is introduced, traction means beyond the outlet of said cone for drawing the band and fibres thereon along said guide and through said truncated cone, whereby the fibres take the form of a cylindrical pad and the band is gradually turned and finally envelopes the fibres to form a cover therefor.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the securement of the fibers is executed by confining the issuing compacted cylindrical pad with a filamentary cord.

14. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the securement of the fibers is executed by encasing the issuing compacted cylindrical pad within a band of flexible material.

15. In the method of manufacturing cylindrical pads, padding and the like from thermoplastic material, and particularly glass, according to which said material, after being projected in the form of fibers from a rotating centrifuging body and entrained with a gaseous fluid, is directed into the larger end of a fixed hollow and substantially horizontally disposed conical receiving surface so as to form a mat, the steps of leading said mat into a truncated forming cone constituting a continuation of the receiving surface by applying a drawing force at the exit of said truncated cone, so as to cause the fibers to be oriented and taken along one by the other, whereby the mat of fibers issuing from the exit assumes the form of a cylindrical pad.

16. The method of manufacturing cylindrical pads, padding and the like from thermoplastic material, and particularly glass, which comprises projecting said material in the form of fibers from a rotating centrifuging body and entraining and directing said fibers with a gaseous fluid onto a portion of the internal surface at the larger end of a fixed and substantially horizontally arranged conical perforated receiving surface so as to form a mat, and leading said mat into a fixed imperforate truncated forming cone constituting a continuation of the receiving surface by applying a drawing force at the exit of said truncated cone, so as to cause the fibers to be oriented and taken along one by the other, whereby the mat of fibers issuing from the exit assumes the form of a cylindrical pad.

17. The apparatus specified in claim 9 wherein said first-mentioned means comprises a rotating centrifuging body.

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